Feitsma had been in the position since 2014
Translated by Thomas Ansell
As reported by the Omrop Fryslân, 42-year old Wethouder Sjoerd Fietsma (PvdA) has stepped down from his post, responsible for finances in the city’s council. He will take up a new position as head of the ‘Labour Market Cultural and Creative Future’ (Arbeidsmarkt Culturele en Creatieve Toekomst), also known as the ACCT.
Feitsma has been a bit of a mainstay in the Frisian capital in the last decade or two: having been a Alderperson since 2014, and the head of the Leeuwarder PvdA (Labour Party) since 2006. “It’s unfortunate that I have to make this choice now, but the moment is almost never good”, said Feitsma.
Once the Coronavirus outbreak has been brought under control, there is likely to be a period of sustained economic pressure on the Northern economy, so making it a hard time to leave now- but Feitsma added that he didn’t want the opportunity of directing the ACCT to pass him by.
The ACCT was set up as a national organization to help the labour market in the cultural sector, and Feitsma wants to use his new position to promote Leeuwarder culture.
Since the last elections in the city, in 2017, three Alderpeople have stepped down; Henk Deinum and Herwil van Gelder were the first. Mayor Sybrand Buma wished Feitsma well in his new role, and thanked him for his role in the Gemeente: “Wethouder Fietsma has, first as a councillor and then as an Alderman, done a significant amount for Leeuwarden. We was one of the main buttresses for the success of LF2018, and has worked hard to keep our finances healthy during a difficult period.”
It is not yet clear who will replace Feitsma. Andries Ekhart, the local leader of the PvdA, said “tomorrow we have an extra meeting with the party, and after that people can put themselves forward.” Ekhart ruled himself out, too, “I’d have to be 10 years younger! It is now time to bring in new faces.”
Image: the City Hall in Leeuwarden. By Wikimedia user Johan Bakker. License here.
